Artificial Intelligence Solution from Fujitsu Helps Siemens Gamesa Significantly Accelerate Quality Assurance Procedures

Fujitsu has significantly accelerated Siemens Gamesa’s post manufacturing quality assurance (QA) process through the co-creation of an Artificial Intelligence solution1 that uses deep learning capabilities to significantly reduce inspection times for newly-manufactured wind turbine blades.

Siemens is using the new Fujitsu AI solution to speed up the inspection process for the fiberglass blades, which are up to 75 meters long. AI analyses images generated from Non-Destructive Testing data scans to identify patterns that may indicate manufacturing defects, such as wrinkling, that could cause the blades to fail during operation. Inspection time to thoroughly check every centimeter of the entire length of a new blade is reduced to just one and a half hours. As a result, highly-skilled inspectors are freed up from a monotonous but necessary task that could previously take six hours.

Ken Kaser, Head of Operation in Offshore at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, states: “Fujitsu has been a great partner helping us to use our data more effectively and efficiently”.

Heine Bach, Head of Quality in Operation at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, continues: “Turbine blade failure is not an option, so we needed a solution that would accelerate the time-consuming quality assurance process without compromising on accuracy or safety in any way. By adopting Fujitsu’s ground-breaking Artificial Intelligence technology it takes only a quarter of the time previously required to perform an inspection. We have co-created a solution that not only dramatically cuts the time required for a thorough inspection of turbine blades, but also enables us to focus on sections of blades with potential deviations."

Duncan Tait, Corporate Executive Officer, SEVP and Head of Americas and EMEIA at Fujitsu, said: “Artificial Intelligence has delivered a radical step forwards for Siemens Gamesa in improving what was previously a time-consuming and laborious task. It is just one example of how Fujitsu is co-creating with its customers to take solutions to the next level. We listened to the problem, before jointly working on a solution that leverages AI deep learning, image and signal processing techniques during the inspection process. This ensures the highest possible quality, while also removing the monotony of checking every centimeter of a fiberglass blade of up to 75 meters – something that used to take up to a whole day and required intense levels of concentration to complete.”